Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Suri&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Suri’ particularly characterized by flowers which are yellow/green; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Suri’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Suri’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Rene Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2000 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Anthura Gold’, patented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘(Malibu Real×amabilis)’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2008 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2008 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Suri’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are yellow/green;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Suri’, the female parent ‘Anthura Gold’ has yellow colored flowers and they are about 5 cm in size, the male parent ‘(Malibu Real×amabilis)’ has white colored flowers and they are about 7 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Suri’ are yellow/green and are about 6 cm in size.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Suri’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Golden Dawn’ (unpatented). The flowers of ‘Suri’ are yellow/green and about 6 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Golden Dawn’ are yellow and about 5 cm in size. The labellum of ‘Suri’ is white and yellow with a red/purple haze, whereas the labellum of ‘Golden Dawn’ white and yellow (more yellow than ‘Suri’).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Suri’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Suri’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suri’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Suri’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Suri’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Suri’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Suri’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Suri’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Suri’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Suri’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Suri’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Suri’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Anthura Gold’, patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘(Malibu Real×amabilis)’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 196A); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 55 cm Spread: about 35 to 50 cm.         -   Growth habit.—small; green leaves (RHS 137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 10 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, narrow and the tip is little             pointy.         -   Texture (upper & under side).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—none.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 10 to 17 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 6 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS 137A) with             yellow/green edges (RHS 144B) Under side: yellow/green (RHS             146B).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 137A) under side: yellow/green (RHS 146B). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 10 to 26.         -   Length.—about 35 to 55 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—yellow/green (RHS 144A) with RHS 144C spots.         -   Internode.—Length: about 30 mm. -   Inflorescence description: -   Appearance: upright to slightly pendant, racemose inflorescence with     bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open in succession beginning     with the lowermost flower. -   Buds:     -   -   Height (from base to tip).—about 20 mm.         -   Diameter (at midpoint).—about 15 mm.         -   Shape.—egg-shaped/oval.         -   Color.—yellow/green (RHS 144C). -   Flowering time: For an untreated plant (flowering plant that has not     undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a temperature of     18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after a period of about 30     weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2 racemes appear with about 16 to     20 flower buds and flowers per inflorescence. First flowers can be     expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a     leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent. -   Flowering longevity: On the plant: about 4 to 6 months; lastingness     of cut flowers: has not been observed -   Fragrance: no fragrance -   Flower:     -   -   Rate of opening.—Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3 days             after petal and sepal separation.         -   Orientation at opening.—slanted upward and outward.         -   Shape.—Typical shape of Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2.         -   Size (of single bloom).—Height: about 50 mm Diameter: about             60 mm Depth of tube: about 8 mm. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity and arrangement.—three petals and three sepals that             are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals             are more pronounced than sepals.         -   Arrangement.—Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral             petals and labellum.         -   2 lateral petals.—Overall shape: broadly ovate, little             triangular and weakly cupped Apex: oval Margin: entire and             weakly undulate Base: broadly ovate Length: about 30 mm             Width: about 30 mm Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny             Under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened):             upper and under surface: A combination of white (RHS 155C)             with yellow/green (RHS 150D). Labellum: Overall shape:             3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of             the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 stubs appendages at the apex.             Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the             midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it Margin:             entire and weakly undulate Apex: oval Length: about 15 mm             Width (not flattened): about 11 mm Texture: Upper and under             surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened):             Midlobe, upper side: white (RHS NN155C). At the base upper             edges and a part of the midvein are yellow (RHS 12A). On the             yellow midvein is also a little greyed/orange (RHS 172A).             From base till halfway a light red/purple haze (RHS 70B).             Under side: white (RHS NN155C). At the base, the edges are             yellow (RHS 12A). Lateral lobes, upper side: white (RHS             NN155C). From base till halfway yellow (RHS 12B) with             greyed/orange spots (RHS 172A). Under edge is yellow (RHS             12A). Under surface: white (RHS NN155C). Under edge is             yellow (RHS 12A). Cirrhi: small (about 3 mm) color: white             (RHS NN155C) Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm Width             (not flattened): about 4 mm Color: yellow/orange (RHS 17C)             with greyed/orange spots (RHS 172A). Sides are white (RHS             NN155A) with greyed/yellow spots (RHS 161A). -   Sepals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals.         -   Overall shape.—elliptical and weakly cupped Margin: entire             and weakly undulate Length: about 35 mm Width: about 22 mm             Apex: oval/round Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth             and satiny Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Dorsal:             green/white (RHS 157D) with yellow/green (RHS 154D).             Lateral: Yellow/green (RHS 154C) with green/white (RHS             157D). At the base some small greyed/purple spots (RHS             184B). Under surface: Dorsal: Yellow/green (RHS 154D) which             runs into green/white (RHS 157D). Lateral: Yellow/green (RHS             154D) with some RHS 154B. At the base some green/white (RHS             157D). -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—about 30 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—At the flower white (RHS 155C) which runs into             yellow/green (RHS 145C) and then yellow/green (RHS 145A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed. -   Column:     -   -   Length.—about 10 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 5 mm.         -   Color.—white (RHS NN155B). -   Pollinia:     -   -   Quantity.—two.         -   Diameter.—about 1 mm.         -   Color.—orange (RHS 24A). -   Ovary:     -   -   Length.—about 3 mm.         -   Diameter.—about 4 mm.         -   Color.—white (RHS NN155B). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Suri’, as illustrated and described herein. 